'It hurts': Wallabies lose to Wales for first time in 10 years

Cardiff: The Wallabies have succumbed to Wales for the first time in 10 years and failed to continue their 13-game unbeaten streak against the men in red after a tense 9-6 result on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

Wales' replacement playmaker Dan Biggar slotted a penalty to put his side ahead by three points with just over three minutes remaining off the back of a Rob Simmons knock-on and Ned Hanigan infringement.

Broken: Wales have finally ended a long losing run against Australia.Credit:AP

Australia had a chance after the siren to sneak a win but looked out of ideas as they slumped to their first defeat to Wales since 2008 and only third since 1991.

There were similar vibes about this game to the World Cup pool match in 2015 where Australia’s defence got them over the line, but on this occasion they were unable to get out of a rut that has now resulted in just three wins from their last 13 games stretching back to last November.

Advertisement

"It hurts," said Wallabies captain Michael Hooper. "Our preparation was really solid this week and I thought our defence was great tonight. We were able to repel a lot of what the Welsh threw at us but credit to them they stuck at it really strong.

"It has been a long-time jinx playing us and you could see how happy they were to get on top of us. It was a real grudge match and a real Test match. Congratulations to Wales, but it really hurts.

"We will re-group again. We have got two more games to play on this trip and a hell of a lot to play for each week. This really hurts and I back the coaching group and the players to turn this into winning results."

On two occasions the Wallabies turned down probable three-pointers in the second half and while hindsight is a beautiful thing, it was strange that Hooper didn’t go for the sticks more often.

With scores at 3-3 for most of the second half, Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who missed two earlier kicks, broke the deadlock in the 68th minute after Tatafu Polota-Nau was penalised for being offside. It brought an almost sold out crowd of 64,110 at Principality Stadium to their feet. This one meant the world to them after a decade of pain.

Matt Toomua stepped up and nailed a clutch penalty from the right sideline, in the midst of booing from vociferous Wales fans, in the 75th minute to level scores but it wasn’t enough for Australia to get their European tour off to a perfect start.

Australia’s one shining light, in a game where no tries were scored, was David Pocock. He was phenomenal at the breakdown and caused Wales’ ball-runners multiple headaches. His strength and determination to hold onto the ball for dear life in a ruck is truly remarkable at times.

Swamped: Will Genia is tackled by a host of Welsh defenders.Credit:AP

The match looked like being the first draw between the sides since 2006 before Biggar's late strike sunk the Australians to further humiliation.

Earlier, hooker Tolu Latu got a couple of early nerve-settling lineouts out of the way in just his second start at Test level but his third throw was inaccurate as Wales swooped deep in Australian territory. A few phases later Wales won an offside penalty but Halfpenny missed a relatively straightforward kick.

Loading

Wales did go up 3-0 in the 22nd minute after a second scrum penalty against the Wallabies. Forwards coach Simon Raiwalui could only put his hands on his head as the cameras panned up to he and a displeased Michael Cheika in the box.

Even when Australia strung 16 phases together, Adam Coleman dropped an absolute sitter. He’d be forgiven for that at Twickenham given the inclement weather but under the roof in Cardiff, there was no one else to blame.

To his credit, Coleman made 14 carries - more than any Australian player – for 20 metres to go with seven tackles.

Australia’s scrum wilted against a fired up Wales front row and Hooper’s men – he included - lacked accuracy at the breakdown.

Wales should have led at the break but they had to settle for three points apiece after Halfpenny missed his second kick from almost in front. It was very uncharacteristic for a man with 84 Tests to his name and the local crowd was stunned.

Loading

The three points the Wallabies scored in the opening 40 minutes was their lowest tally since the England fixture at Twickenham last year.

Australia trailed 8-5 on penalties at half-time but w

ere staying in the contest with a 94 per cent tackle success rate. Defence was outstanding from both sides in a bruising opening half.

Hooper audaciously turned down the chance for a penalty in the 50th minute. The lineout was won but an attempted driving maul was unsuccessful and seconds later Australia dropped the ball.

Shortly after, the same occurred again, but this time there was an overthrow on the five-metre line and Wales secured the ball back.

When the Wallabies did have possession – 53 per cent all up in the match – their attack looked sharp but it was too lateral.

It was a real grudge match and a real Test match. Congratulations to Wales, but it really hurts.

Michael Hooper

In a tumultuous year for Australian rugby, the Wallabies are doing nothing to alleviate concerns they are heading in the wrong direction with the World Cup in sight.

Other teams are improving and as much as the Wallabies will put water on the flames, their winning record of 23 per cent in the last year is alarming.

Onto Italy next week in Padua. Australia couln’t lose there, to the 14th ranked side in the world. Or could they? There are few surprises anymore with this bumbling Wallabies team.